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Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Qatar ready to freeze oil production

Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Qatar will freeze oil production at January levels if other countries follow the suit, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Feb. 16, Sputnik International news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, Novak had a meeting with Saudi Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi, Venezuelan Energy Minister Eulogio Del Pino and Energy and Industry Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada to discuss oil production and situation on the energy market in the Qatari capital Doha.

"Following the meeting, four countries - Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Venezuela - are ready to freeze oil production at January levels if other producers join this initiative," Novak said.

According to media reports, the ministers decided to freeze oil extractions to stabilize them at January 11 levels.

After meeting with Aleksander Novak, Ali Al-Naimi said that freezing output at the January 11 level would be "adequate."

Since the collapse in oil prices in the first half of January, officials from OPEC member states and non-OPEC countries have been considering holding a meeting to address the declining oil prices, which have caused significant financial problems for some states.

Meanwhile, oil prices slowed Feb. 16 after reports over an alleged agreement between Russia and a number of OPEC countries to freeze their levels of extractions.